They've spent nothing, but Newcastle must try to show that money isn't everything

Newcastle United will begin their season on Monday night by attempting not only to tear the form book inside out but also demonstrating that transfer values can be just a waste of money.

Having spent zilch on players since the end of last season, the Magpies travel to the Etihad Stadium to take on a Manchester City side whose dressing room is populated by players gathered together by the Premier League’s biggest spenders of the summer.

And this at a club which compounded a season in which they barely scraped out of relegation trouble by creating off the field mayhem by appointing a former failed manager as their director of football with overall responsibility for player recruitment – such as it is.

Not clapping Joe: Alan Pardew hasn't seen any money spent on new players

But, if Alan Pardew is getting paid for providing success on the field, at least the Newcastle manager can absolve himself from any transfer market disappointments – a situation he seems eager to exploit.

'We just can’t compete with Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in the Champions League positions with that extra revenue and everything else,' he insisted.

'It’s beginning to be a bit of a concern, the gap they’re opening up to the rest of the Premier League.

'Financial Fair Play was meant to even things out a little bit, but it doesn’t seem to have had any impact at all.

Concern: Pardew believes the gap between the top four and the rest is widening

'We can only try to improve with what we have. I do think we will do some business before the window shuts, so perhaps it’s a bit more lopsided as things stand.

'We have invested in the team and believe there is good depth to the squad, but I think the offensive players turn draws into wins and are very important to the Premier League.’

He added: 'City are backed by the revenue of a state. It’s very difficult. I don’t begrudge them it. They have a business model and if they can make it work for them, then hats off to them.

'Our business model is such that we can’t generate the money they can, therefore the gap widens.

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'A couple of players have moved to other clubs that we were interested in. We can’t compete with them. The bottom line is we try to maximise the revenue we have.’

As if the stark contrast in form and financial circumstances are not bad enough, Newcastle also have to contend with a poor history of visits to City.

'I don’t think there is a mental barrier. We have never done well against them,’ admitted Pardew.

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'We’ve played in patches, but never over an entire game. I think if we are going to get a result then that’s what we need to do.

'We have beaten all the big teams – Manchester United, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool – or at least taken points from them.

'City are the one team against whom we haven’t got over the line, so it would be fantastic to bury that one as well.'